Question

Which two genes in the diagram are most likely to be separated during a crossover event? a. Black body and reduced bristles c. Aristaless and speck wing b. Purple eye and light eye d. Dumpy wing and curved wing

Answer 1

The correct answer is C : Aristaless and speck wing

As you can see in the diagram presented below, the two genes are on the same chromosome, but they are very far apart from each other.

Why is this important?
Genes on the same chromosome can be separated in a process called the crossing-over. The crossing over is a process that occurs in meiosis in which the two homologous chromosomes randomly exchange parts of their sequence. The farther apart the two genes are on the chromosome, the more likely is that during crossing over they will be separated. Likewise, the closer the two genes are the more likely it is that they will cross-over to the other chromosome together.